Murano
●Acquastanca – 48 Fondamenta Manin; 011-39-041-319-5125; veniceredhouse.com/acqua-stanca; opened last April by Giovanna Arcangeli (Murano native who planned events at Harry’s Bar for decade); Acquastanca is refuge from tourism bustle; quiet, warm atmosphere with locals; cichetti (Venetian snacks) include crispy prawns and octopus salad; few wood tables by canal; housed in former bakery; stylish but not overdone (wood beam ceilings, brick walls, and resin floors; focuses on simple seafood, ; highlights include buttery and perfectly briny spaghetti alle vongole, crispy orata (sea bream) baked in oven with potatoes, baccalà with polenta, and tagliolini with squid; another strength is house-made dessert, such as lemon meringue cake, tiramisù, and coffee coviglia (coffee semifreddo); this restaurant is hideaway for groups with good, local food, where can stop in from breakfast to dinner for espresso or full meal; if you want to really fit in, ask for ombra (little sip of white wine that comes from old Venetian custom of selling white wine from vendors with little carts in ombra, or shade, to keep it cool).
●Busa alla Torre – 3 Campo Santo Stefano (known locally as Lele’s); 011-39-041-739-662; no visit to island complete without lunch here; deep-fried soft shell crabs are must.

Murano
●Sent – Fondamente Serenella; 011-39-041-527-4665; marinaesusannasent.com; from long line glass-workers, Marina and Susanna Sent make black glass and clear crystal necklaces, etc.
●Venini – 50 Fondamenta Vetrai; 011-39-041-273-7211; venini.com; since 1921, among Venice’s most innovative and respected glassmakers; products are more artworks than mere blown glass; Versace’s glass objets d’art done by Venini; not cheap but no one else has such lovely or original handblown Murano glassware; in particular, look for works by brother and sister, Alessandro and Laura Diaz de Santillana, as well as by Grazia Rosin.